Stem Cell Orthopedic Institute of Texas®

South Texas Spinal Clinic

Orthopedic Surgeons located in Alamo Heights, TX & Boerne, TX

Stem cell therapy relieves pain and restores damaged or aging tissues using adult stem cells that effectively promote healing of injured muscles, tendons, ligaments, and joints. Dr. David Hirsch at the Stem Cell Orthopedic Institute of Texas® is a leading expert in extracting your own adult stem cells, then using ultrasound-guided injections to precisely deliver them into damaged issues. To learn more about stem cell therapy, call the office in the South Texas area or book an appointment online.

Stem Cell Therapy Q & A

What are stem cells?

Stem cells have the unique ability to self-replicate indefinitely. Throughout your lifetime, your body relies on adult stem cells that divide and produce new tissues to replace old and damaged tissues.

One group of adult stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), are used for stem cell therapy because they replicate to produce several types musculoskeletal tissues.

What is stem cell therapy?

Stem cell therapy consists of an injection containing a concentrated amount of MSCs. When MSCs are injected directly into injured and diseased musculoskeletal tissues, they promote healing.

Stem cells can:

Develop into bone, muscle, cartilage, fat, and other connective tissues

Reduce inflammation

Promote cell growth and fight cell death

Stimulate the growth of new blood vessels

Secrete proteins that promote tissue growth

Limit activation of harmful immune cells

What health conditions are treated with stem cell therapy?

Stem cell therapy is an effective treatment for chronic pain and orthopedic injuries to your joints, bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. It may even help regenerate cartilage, which is important because cartilage doesn’t heal itself following an injury.

Many musculoskeletal conditions benefit from MSC therapy, including:

Osteoarthritis of the knees, hips, hands, and ankles

Torn muscles, tendons, and ligaments

Rheumatological conditions

Chronic pain

How are mesenchymal stem cells harvested?

Dr. Hirsch obtains stem cells from bone marrow in your hip bone because it’s a rich source of MSCs. You’ll receive intravenous light sedation, as well as local anesthesia injected into the targeted area of your hip.

Dr. Hirsch then extracts bone marrow using a needle, then processes it in a centrifuge that separates MSCs from other cells in the sample. The concentrated MSCs are used for your stem cell injection.

What is platelet-rich plasma?

Dr. Hirsch may add platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to the stem cell concentrate. PRP is also made on-site by drawing a sample of your blood and separating the platelets. The concentrated platelets in PRP contain growth factors that can:

Reduce inflammation

Heal and repair tissues

Trigger new tissue growth

Develop new blood vessels

Increase stem cell effectiveness

How is stem cell therapy administered?

Dr. Hirsch performs an ultrasound-guided injection to deliver the MSCs into a precisely targeted area. The entire treatment, including the bone marrow aspiration, takes about 60 minutes, so you can go home the same day.

If you have a musculoskeletal condition that may benefit from stem cell therapy, call Dr. Hirsch or use the online booking tool to schedule an appointment.